Disposable cup holder and dispenser



Oct. 20, 1959 2,909,300

J. s. ENGRAM DISPOSABLE CUP HOLDER AND DISPENSER Filed Nov. 4, 1957 Jolm 5. Engram INVENTOR.

BY 'ZWW ited rates The present invention relates to disposable paper or equivalent drinking cups and novel holding and dispensing means therefor and wherein the latter is such in construction that it may be successfully and usefully incorporated in the liquid containing space of a hot-cold picnic jug.

Admittedly, the appropriation and use of individual drinking cups with the cups separably nested together and in one manner or another incorporated in the closure means of thermal-type picnic jugs, bottles and the like, is old and well known. It is perhaps an old and well known practice to take a carton or supply of paper cups along when on an outing or a picnic with a view toward encouraging the use of throw-away cups instead of drinking glasses or the types of plastic or other cups often associated with picnic and outing jugs. Confronted with this problem, a satisfactory solution thereof appears to involve an appropriate linking of the ideas by combining the cup holding and dispensing means with the jug itself. To this end, novelty is predicated on providing the jug with a limited supply of disposable paper cups and building the holding and dispensing means into the jug and achieving this end in such a Way that a minimum of the liquid containing space of the jug has to be sacrificed.

Stated otherwise, the invention has to do with the practical use of disposable cups and-holding and dispensing means therefor wherein very little jug capacity is sacrificed, sanitation principles are promoted, the cups are rendered easily accessible oneby-one without requiring removal of the usual screw cap of the jug whereby to promote progress in this art in a practical and acceptable manner.

In carrying outthe principles of the inventive concept, the stacked disposable paper cups are temporarily stored for use. in a cup-shaped receiver. The receiver constitutes the holder from which the cups are withdrawn and are projected to assume a readily accessible place for withdrawal. By preference, the receiver is flanged and suspended in that part of the jug or jar where the usual screw neck is provided. A specially constructed screw cap serves to clampingly' maintain the flanged end removably in place.

Novelty is also predicated on the screw cap having a central opening with a hinged lid latched removably in place and means whereby when the lid is opened, the cups are lifted and conveniently positioned for one-by-one use.

Eifective and practical dispensing of the cups by lifting the same and elevating them above the jugs neck involves the use of a sling-like bridle the bight portion of which is swivelly and detachably connected to a hinged closing lid and the free ends of which have hooks detachably connected with diametrically opposite holes in a follower and server receptacle.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. l is a perspective view with a portion of the jug broken away showing the plugged pouring spout, the filler neck and closure means incorporating the invention and also showing, as an incidental element the bail-like carrying handle.

Fig. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale with the parts in section and elevation taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view wherein all of the essential components or parts are eifectually shown.

Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to Figs. 1 and 2, the picnic jug, as an entity, is denoted by the numeral 4 and it is conventional. As seen in Fig. 2, the jug is of substantially conventional construction and embodies an outer wall or casing 6 and an inner glass or equivalent container 8 having a neck 10 spaced from the screw threaded jacket or casing neck 12. by a packing ring 14. The carrying bail or handle 16 is old also and is connected with attaching brackets 18. The pouring spout is denoted at 20 and provided with appropriate plug or closure 22.

Although the invention itself may be incorporated in the container space in some manner other than that shown in the drawing and yet be within the purview of this concept the preferred adaptation is one which is directly associated with the screw cap 24-. This comprises a screw threaded rim 26 which is connectible with the neck 12 and has a central opening defined by an inwardly extending lip or flange 28 as perhaps best shown in Fig. 2. A circular lid 30 is hingedly mounted at 32, is provided with a packing ring 34 and a retaining latch 36 releasably engageable with the screw threaded part of the cap as shown in Fig. 2.

The part of the attachment or invention which is called the cup-shaped receiver is denoted by the numeral 38 and as seen in Fig. 3 it comprises a simple and practical holder having a cylindrical portion 46 and a conical portion 42 with the cylindrical portion having an outstanding flange 44 provided with a packing ring 46. The flanged end 44 is supported atop the neck means as seen in Fig. 2. The conical portion serves to accommodate a follower cup 48 which is probably a specially made plastic or an equivalent cup having a reinforced'bead 50 in diametrically opposite holes 52 to accommodate attaching and lifting hooks 54 on the free ends of a cord or an equivalent sling or bridle 56. The central or bight portion of the bridle is detachably suspended by way of snap hook 58 connected by a swivel 60 with a central lug 62 depending from the underneath side of the center of the lid 30. The disposable paper orequivalent throwaway drinking cups are stacked or nested in a well known manner and they are individually denoted by the numeral 64. The follower cup becomes a liftable and lowerable receptacle for the paper cups. It is normally seated within the cup-like bottom 42 of the receiver or holder 38. The holder is suspended and held in place in the obvious manner seen in Fig. 2. It can be removed by simply unscrewing the cap 24, this in an obvious manner.

It will be seen that with the arrangement shown merely unlatching and lifting the lid 30 results in simultaneously exerting an upward pull or lift on the sling and the sling lifts the serving receptacle with the result that the drinking cups when in the phantom line position seen in Fig. 2 are ready to be removed one-by-one for practical use.

With the construction, disposable paper cups may be systematically and aptly handled. With the construction it is not necessary to remove the jug cap to obtain the cups. The disposable cup capacity would ordinarily be suiiicient to use up the jugs contents by one or more people. Manifestly, this invention is primarily, but not necessarily, intended for use in connection with jugs having a pouring spout.

The sanitary features are outstanding including the fact that the cups are protected from the contents of the jug by the shielding receiver or holder means 38. The cups are protected from the top by the cap and after use the disposable cups may be thrown away. Manifestly, users concerned with health benefits will endorse an invention such as this for widespread adoption and use.

One will also appreciate the ease of operation. With one finger lifting on the thumb release of the lid swings or up on its hinged means and the stack of cups are lifted up for convenient and practical accessibility. With this invention it is not necessary to take an extra carton of cups along on the trip.

It is believed that by using the disposable cups, sacrificing very little jug capacity, not having to remove the jug cap, the sanitation of individual cups, the ease of obtaining the cups and the convenience of having extra cups, constitutes a construction the new results of which are clearly apparent.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of.

the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, r

and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A picnic jug comprising a container having a neck and a removable screw cap attached to said neck, and a cup-shaped receiver removably suspended from said neck and extending downwardly through the neck, depending into the space of the jug, and having an open upper end provided with an outstanding marginal flange clamped between said cap and the upper end of said neck, and said flange being provided with a gasket to thus provide a substantially liquid-tight cooperaitve association between the flange and neck.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein that portion of said cap over said neck is centrally apertured, and a lid hingedly mounted on said cap and provided with a latch engageable with the cap and normally closing the aperture in said cap.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein that '8! plurality of throw-away cups stacked together and removably arranged in said follower, and an operating connection between said lid and said follower.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein that portion of the cap over said neck is centrally apertured, a lid hingedly mounted on said cap and provided with a latch engageable with the cap and normally closing the aperture, a cup-shaped follower mounted for operation in said receiver, a plurality of throw-away cups stacked together and removably arranged in said follower, an operating connection between said lid and follower embodying a sling having a bight portion swivelly connected to said lid and free end portions provided with attaching and lifting hooks, and said follower beng provided at diametrically opposite places with holes with which said hooks are releasably engageable.

5. For use in conjunction with the screw threaded neck of an insulated picnic jug, a screw cap having a screw threaded rim and an endless lateral flange defining an opening, a lid normally covering said opening and hingedly mounted on said flange, a receiver insertable into said jug neck and having a conical bottom portion and a cylindrical upper portion provided with outstanding flange, provided with a packing ring, a cup-like follower fitting removably and telescopically into said receiver, and an operating connection between said lid and follower.

6. For use in conjunction with the screw threaded neck of an insulated picnic jug, a screw cap having a screw threaded rim and an endless lateral flange defining an opening, a lid normally covering said opening and hingedly mounted on said flange, a receiver insertable into said jug neck and having a conical bottom portion and a cylindrical upper portion provided with an outstanding supporting flange, said supporting flange being, in turn, provided with a packing ring, a cup-like follower fitting removably and telescopically into said receiver, and an operating connection between said lid and follower, comprising a flexible sling having free end portions provided with hooks and said hooks being releasably engageable with diametrically opposite openings provided therefor in said follower, and a swivel connection between the bight portion of said sling and central portion of said lid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

